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1. Wander Franco, SS, Tampa Bay Rays
2021 stats: 17 G, .268/.329/.507, 3 HR, 1 SB, 6 BB, 11 SO at Triple-A Durham.
So, the Rays traded Willy Adames last week, and the corresponding move was a promotion of: Taylor Walls. Let’s be honest, Walls is not a bad prospect and a pretty solid defender, but he’s not even in the realm of Franco’s talent. The switch-hitting shortstop is scuffling a bit, but it’s just a matter of when the Rays bring up the best prospect in baseball. It’s coming. It just might be a few more weeks.
2. Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox
2021 stats: 18 G, .278/.366/.625, 7 HR, 4 SB, 10 BB, 21 SO at Triple-A Worcester.
If you take away Saturday, Duran has two hits in his last 21 at-bats. But let’s talk about Saturday. Duran went 5-for-5 with two homers and a double, and that’s pretty good. There are some defensive issues with Duran -- not future DH issues, but some tracking stuff that needs to be fixed -- but the bat is ready to go. Duran has a chance to be a major fantasy contributor when the Red Sox make that call, and that call should be relatively soon.
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3. Sixto Sanchez, RHP, Miami Marlins
2020 stats: 7 G, 39 IP, 3.46 ERA, 3 HR, 11 BB, 33 SO at Miami.
Marlins general manager Kim Ng talked about Sanchez on Saturday, and reiterated that the Marlins are “in this for the long haul” with the right-hander. She also didn’t dispute that the goal is still to have the right-hander back with the Marlins by the end of June. Even with concerns about innings limits -- and pitch limits to start -- there is still reason to be excited about Sanchez’s potential fantasy production when he returns to the Miami rotation.
4. Vidal Brujan, INF/OF, Tampa Bay Rays
2021 stats: 17 G, .319/.405/.638, 7 HR, 7 SB, 10 BB, 14 SO at Triple-A Durham.
Brujan showed off his top-of-the-scales speed over the week, and that includes a three-steal game on Thursday. It’s also worth noting that he continues to split time in the outfield and the infield, as over the past week he had starts in center, right, second and third base. Brujan doesn’t have the same kind of upside as Franco -- no one does -- but the potential to hit for average, steal bases and also provide a bit of power is pretty enticing, too.
5. Alek Manoah, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
2021 stats: 3 G, 18 IP, 0.50 ERA, 3 BB, 27 SO at Triple-A Buffalo.
The bad news is that Manoah saw his ERA rise by over half a run in his start on Wednesday. The good news is, well, look at that number above. Manoah fanned 10 over six strong innings, and continues to show swing-and-miss stuff and command of that arsenal. Continues being a subjective term considering it’s just three starts, but this was the 11th pick of the 2019 draft, and stuff has never been a question. There’s no guarantee when Manoah gets the call, but those with deeper rosters might want to consider a stash right now.
6. Deivi Garcia, RHP, New York Yankees
2021 stats: 4 G, 15.2 IP, 5.17 ERA, 12 BB, 21 SO at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre; 1 G, 4 IP, 4.50 ERA, 3 BB, 4 SO at New York (AL).
After two consecutive excellent starts for the RailRiders, Garcia was awful on Saturday. The right-hander allowed three walks, five hits and gave up four runs while needing 74 pitches to go 2 1/3 innings. That after Garcia had struck out 16 against two walks in those aforementioned outings. Garcia’ stuff is unquestioned, but the Yankees are going to need to see him throw more strikes before he’s up. Just be ready to add him when that takes place; knowing he’s capable of missing loads of bats.
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7. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, San Diego Padres
2021 stats: 3 G, 13/2 IP, 7.24 ERA, 5 BB, 12 SO at Triple-A El Paso.
Uh oh. It’s only three starts, but so far, Gore is not showing the stuff nor the command that has him ranked as the best pitching prospect in baseball. In his last start against Albuquerque, he went just 3 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on six hits. He also struck out four against one walk, but it’d be hard to consider this a strong start. Again, you can’t write off Gore based on three appearances, but things are going to have to start going much better if he’s going to join the San Diego rotation. Frustrating, but the reality of the situation.
8. Taylor Trammell, OF, Seattle Mariners
2021 stats: 10 G, .512/.511/.977, 5 HR, 1 SB, 2 BB, 10 SO at Triple-A Tacoma; 27 G, .157/.255/.337, 4 HR, 2 SB, 10 BB, 41 SO at Seattle.
Goodness gracious. Trammell did not handle his first taste of MLB action very well, but let’s keep in mind it was a whopping 95 plate appearances, and you can just look at what he’s done since being sent down to Tacoma. He’s picked up at least a hit in every game with the Rainiers, and after a 4-for-4 game on Sunday he now has an OPS in the former PCL of 1.487. Trammell still offers the potential for power and speed production, and the Mariners currently have one of the weakest lineups in baseball. He’s worth another look when the Mariners deem him ready to return to Seattle.
9. Daniel Lynch, LHP, Kansas City Royals
2021 stats: 1 G, 6 IP, 6.00 ERA, 3 BB, 7 SO at Triple-A Omaha; 3 G, 8 IP, 15.75 ERA, 5 BB, 7 SO at Kansas City.
Lynch’s time with the Royals didn’t go very well, and he didn’t have an auspicious first start with the Storm Chasers, either. That being said, he did show off his swing-and-miss arsenal; he just struggled to command it. It’s also just one start -- and just eight innings at the big league level -- and there’s a reason scouts consider the 24-year-old one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. It would be a major upset if Lynch didn’t get starts with the Royals before the end of 2021, and despite the ickiness of those numbers above, there’s reason for fantasy optimism.
10. Jesus Sanchez, OF, Miami Marlins
2021 stats: 16 G, .469/.500/.938, 7 HR, 0 SB, 4 BB, 13 SO at Triple-A Jacksonville.
What a first few weeks of the minor league season it’s been for Sanchez. The 23-year-old went just 1-for-25 in his taste of MLB action last summer, but that’s not indicative of his talent at all. Sanchez has five above-average tools, and he’s clobbered Triple-A pitching thus far. There’s some risk here because he hasn’t shown a lick of consistency at any level, but he wouldn’t be the first player at his age/level of experience to put things together.
Next in line: Jeter Downs, INF, Boston Red Sox; Drew Waters, OF, Atlanta Braves; Joey Bart, C, San Francisco Giants; Matt Manning, RHP, Detroit Tigers; Matthew Liberatore, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals
